From vegan baked goods to a line of herbal tea blends, Mariah Goelz’s Southern Roots Apothecary aims to help people slow down and be conscious of what goes in and on their bodies.

“For One Spark, I have chosen to focus on the medicinal herbs that grow abundantly in our natural environment,” Goelz said. “We look outside and see weeds where we want to see grass. In reality, those weeds are medicinal and edible. I hope to shift people’s awareness of what is all around them so that they not only feel a sense of ownership in their health, but a deeper connection to the world.”

Born in California and raised in Jacksonville, Goelz established Southern Roots Apothecary two years ago. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz, she lived in Colorado and Asheville, N.C., before returning to Northeast Florida three years ago.

“Upon arrival, I went through a bit of culture shock,” Goelz said. “I missed the thriving farmers markets, the food co-ops and the alternative healers that I came to rely on. I vented to a friend, saying that Jacksonville was so uninspiring at times. She told me that, sometimes, you have to make your own inspiration. And that is why I started Southern Roots Apothecary.”

Goelz and her partner, Juan Pablo Salvat, hope to bring Southern Roots Apothecary to the masses.

“Because Jacksonville is so big, it’s easy to get stuck in your little bubble in terms of where you live and the community you interact with,” Goelz said. “One Spark is a great resource. … It is only more inspiring to see fellow artists and entrepreneurs pursing their dreams, too.”